1. Outcomes and how to measure them
Mary Ryan
Pam Cox

2. Outputs and outcomes
Outputs are things we produce (reports, guides, training)
Outcomes are the changes that happen as a result of what we do, sometimes referred to as the impact of our service or intervention
Different sorts of outcomes for individuals (parents and children) and for organisations – children’s services and partner agencies

3. Identifying outcomes Be realistic
Be clear about link between your activities and outcomes you hope to achieve
Be clear about your assumptions and/or the evidence to support your approach
Make use of models to help with this such as the logic model or theory of change

4. Measuring outcomes
Using the information you collect from the parent at the start and at the end of your contact with them
Using standardised measures
Using professional judgment
Using models which capture changes as experienced by parents or those outcomes which are harder to measure eg Outcome star

5. Some challenges
Collecting all the information you need – particularly if parents drop out of contact, or you do not collect assessment information at the beginning of contact
Some standardised tools are complex and costly
Some changes can be hard to measure